Chapter 4: Basic Plan Content
SLG 1-XX: Guide for All-Hazard Emergency Operations Planning (3/96)
page 4-2
rather than fact. Policies also circumscribe and affect response activities, and
could be treated either as part of the situation or in a separate section, if
desired.
Situation The situation section characterizes the "planning environment"--and so makes
clear why emergency operations planning is necessary. The situation section
should, at a minimum, draw from the jurisdiction's hazard identification and
analysis. The situation section may include relative probability and impact of the
hazards, geographic areas likely to be affected by particular hazards, vulnerable
critical facilities (nursing homes, schools, hospitals, etc.), population distribution,
characteristics and locations of special populations (institutionalized persons, the
elderly and disabled, those who speak languages other than English, etc.),
critical resource dependencies on other jurisdictions, and more. The level of
detail is a matter of judgment; some information may be deemed useful to a few
specific functional annexes and presented there. In any event, maps should be
included (as tabs) to support the situation description.
Assumptions Assumptions are simply that: what, in developing the EOP, has been treated as
true for the EOP's execution. These should be included to show the limitations
of the EOP, allowing EOP users (and others) to foresee that some
improvisation or modification may become necessary. It is valid to include even
“obvious” assumptions: that identified hazards will occur (scenarios, if used, can
be outlined), that individuals and organizations are familiar with the EOP and will
execute their assigned responsibilities, that assistance may be needed, and that--
if so--assistance will be available.
Concept of
Operations
The audience for the Basic Plan needs to picture the sequence and scope of the
planned emergency response. The concept of operations section explains the
jurisdiction's overall approach to an emergency situation, i.e., what should
happen, when, and at whose direction. Topics should include: division of local,
State, Federal, and any intermediate interjurisdictional responsibilities; activation
of the EOP; "action levels" and their implications (if formalized in the
jurisdiction); general sequence of actions before, during, and after the
emergency situation; who requests aid and under what conditions (the necessary
forms being contained in tabs); and, for States, who appoints a State
Coordinating Officer (SCO) and how the SCO and the State response
organization will coordinate and work with Federal response personnel in